Harmony Elementary School Awarded Grant
HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVES $5,000 GRANT
Lowe’s Donates Money for The Harmony Garden
Harmony Elementary School has received a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant for the building of a school garden – the Harmony Garden!
We are thrilled to announce that Lowe’s has awarded Harmony Elementary School funding for the Harmony Garden. Our grant application was based on the goal of improving the learning community at Harmony through outdoor lessons centered on growing plants and connecting with the environment. We look forward to sharing the Harmony Garden with the community of Monroe. The garden will engage our students at a different level of learning, allowing them to explore new interests outdoors and broaden their preferences for healthy foods. It is our sincere hope that this new delight for homegrown fruits and vegetables will pass from the children to their families and, eventually, into the community, promoting a community-wide culture of health.
The Harmony Garden will feature raised garden beds, with one for every grade to work in, plus additional beds for herbs, flowers, pollinator habitats, and the LEAP after-school program. A small greenhouse, composting area, outdoor classroom, and toolshed will also help to make up the garden space. Students will help to craft weather tools and decorations to place around the garden to make the space their own. Construction on the garden will begin in February and we hope to have the area completed by April, so that teachers can begin using the space for lessons and activities. A Garden Club is also in the works for interested students or staff to have additional time to learn about gardening, and we welcome any interest from the community in helping to make this project a true and lasting success.
“Harmony’s goal is to introduce healthy food to our students and to shape healthy eating habits that will last for a lifetime. We would like to thank Lowe’s for helping to make our goal a reality for our students,” said Harmony’s Principal, Dr. Barbara Griffieth.
All K-12 public schools in the United States are eligible for the Toolbox for Education program. More information is available at www.ToolboxforEducation.com.
Posted: Tuesday, January 23, 2018